Adjustable knife apparatus



July 21, 1970 5, J, ARAM|N| 3,521,515

ADJUSTABLE KNIFE APPARATUS "Filed NOV. 2'7, 196'? F I INVEN'iOR.

SALVATORE ARAMINI ATTORNEY United States Patent Oifice 3,521,515 Patented July 21, 1970 3,521,515 ADJUSTABLE KNIFE APPARATUS Salvatore J. Aramini, Merrick, 'N.Y., assignor to Trufast Products, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 685,902 Int. Cl. B26d /10 US. Cl. 83-620 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an adjustable knife apparatus for a collar trimming machine and, more particularly, pertains to a knife apparatus in which the angular relationship between the knife blades may be varied to accommodate differently shaped collars.

Collar trimming machines are utilized to trim the excess material from collar points. Those machines presently in use utilize a cutting device having a fixed angular relationship between the knife blades. Accordingly, a different set of knife blades is provided for each collar style. In other words, one set of knife blades is required for trimming a collar that tapers sharply to a point, whereas a different set of knife blades is required for trimming a collar that tapers gradually to a point.

In view of the above, the manufacturer is required to stack a complete inventory of knife blade sets, corresponding to each style of collar he produces. This requirement places an undue economic burden on the manufacturer, particularly in view of the fact that the average collar manufacturer utilizes a number of these machines and a plurality of different sets of knife blades must be provided for each machine. Additionally, a new set of knife blades must be manufactured for each new collar style produced, thereby further decreasing the economy of the device.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a knife apparatus for a collar trimming machine which includes angularly movable knife blades to accommodate different collar styles, thereby eliminating the need for a plurality of different sets of knife blades.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable knife apparatus for a trimming machine which is simple in construction and easy to operate.

A further object and feature of the present invention resides in the novel details of construction which provide an adjustable knife apparatus of the type described which is compatible for use in existing collar trimming machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable knife apparatus for a collar trimming machine which is reliable in operation.

Accordingly, the adjustable knife apparatus of the present invention includes a knife holder support which is adapted to be connected to the movable operating shaft of a collar trimming machine. The support mounts a first and a second knife-holder each of which includes an outwardly extending arm which, in turn, mount respective knife blades. At least one of said first and second knife-holders is movable so that the angular relationship of the knife blades may be varied. Positioning means is provided for affixing said one knife holder in a preselected position corresponding to a desired angle between said first and second knife-holder arms to eliminate the need for a plurality of different sets of knife blades each having a different angle between the blades.

Other features and advantages of the present invention W111 become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collar trimming machine utilizing an adjustable knife apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the adjustable knife apparatus of the present invention, showing the different angular relationships of the blades in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, partially in section, of the adjustable knife apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed fragmentary view of the indexing portion of the knife apparatus.

It is believed that a description of a collar trimming machine or device will greatly facilitate an appreciation and understanding of the adjustable knife apparatus of the present invention. Accordingly, there is shown in FIG. 1 a collar trimming machine which is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The machine 10 includes a base plate 12 which mounts a member 14 having a track 15 defined therein. The member 14 is affixed to the base plate 12 by screws 16 located on each side of the member. Slidably received in the track 15 is a block 18.

A bar 20 extends across the end of the member 14 and is affixed in place by screws 22, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. A screw 24 is rotatably supported by the bar 20 and threadedly engages the block 18 to move the block 14 longitudinally in the track 15. In other words, the rotation of the screw 24 will cause the block 18 to move either forwardly or rearwardly to a desired position. Removably connected to the block 17 by a screw 26 is a cutting platform 28. The side edges 30 and 32 of the cutting platform 28 taper inwardly to a point 33. The taper of the edges 30 and 32 corresponds to the taper of the collar which is to be trimmed.

The base plate 12 further mounts a collar plate support 34. The support 34 is aifixed to the base plate 12 by screws 36, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. The support 34 pivotally mounts a member 37 which removably receives a collar plate 38 therein. The collar plate 38 is provided with inwardly tapering edges 40 and 42 which form a point 43. The taper of the edges 40 and 42 similarly corresponds to the taper of the edges of collar style to be trimmed. A spring 44 is connected between the collar plate 38 and the collar plate support 34 and biases the collar plate 38 to the position shown in FIG. 1, wherein the collar plate is in a vertical plane.

An operating shaft 46 is slidingly received through an appropriate bore in the front of the base plate 12 adjacent to the cutting platform 28. The shaft 46 is adapted to be reciprocated up and down in a vertical plane by an appropriate mechanism (not shown) such as a foot pedal or the like. A pair of knife blades 48 and 50 are connected to the shaft 46 by a connecting device designated generally by the reference numeral 52. The knife blades 48 and 50 are provided with respective bottom cutting edges 54 and 56. Additionally, the knife blades 48 and 50 are positioned in cutting relationship to the cutting platform 28 so that when the shaft 46 is operated in the manner indicated below, the cutting edges 54 and 56 will trim the edges of a collar. In other words, the angle between the knife blades 48 and 50 corresponds to the angle between the edges 30 and 32 of the cutting platform 28 (and, there fore, the angle between the edges 40 and 42 of the collar plate 38).

The operation of the machine 10 follows. When it is desired to trim the tapering edges which form the point of a collar, a cutting platform 28 having tapering edges corresponding to the taper of the edges of the collar is affixed to the movable block 18 by the screw 26. Additionally, a collar plate 38 having the desired taper of the edges 40 and 42 (which correspond to the taper of the edges 30 and 32) is received in the member 37. A set of knife blades 48 and 50 having the desired angular relationship is then aflixed to the shaft 46. That is, the angle between the knife blades 48 and 50 is substantially equal to the angle between the edges 30 and 32. At this time, the screw 24 may be adjusted to move the cutting platform 28 to an operating position so that a cutting action will be effected by the cutting edges 54 and 56 as they move past the edges 30 and 32.

The collar is turned inside out and is mounted on the collar plate 38 with the point of the collar positioned at the point 43 of the collar plate 38 formed by the junction of the tapering edges 40 and 42. The member 37 is then rotated about its pivotal connection with the collar plate support 34 until the collar plate 38 engages the cutting platform 28. At this point, the collar will be positioned on the cutting platform 28 with the portions of the collar to be trimmed extending beyond the edges 30 and 32 of the cutting platform. That is, the excess material will extend beyond the edges of the cutting platform. The shaft 46 is then reciprocated to move the knife blades 48 and 50 downwardly. Accordingly, the cutting edges 54 and 56 of the respective knife blades 48 and 50 will trim the surplus material from the edges of the collar. Thereafter, the shaft 46 is allowed to move back to its normal position in which the cutting blades 48 and 50 are spaced from the cutting platform 28. The spring 44 returns the collar plate 38 to the vertical position shown in F IG. 1 and the collar is then removed from the collar plate. The collar may then be turned rightside out and, after the other pointed edge of the collar is trimmed in a similar 'manner, the collar may be afiixed to a shirt.

It will be appreciated that the collar trimming device or machine trims the excess material from the tapering edges of the collar which form the collar points so that when the collar is turned rightside out there will be no bulges at the points of the collar due to excess material.

As noted hereinabove, collar trimming machines presently in use utilize knife blades having a fixed angular relationship. Accordingly, if the style of the collar to be trimmed is changed, a different set of knife blades will be required having a new angular relationship corresponding to the taper of the particular collar to be trimmed. Accordingly, the adjustable knife apparatus of the present invention, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 58, eliminates the need for a plurality of different sets of knife blades by providing knife blades which are angularly movable.

The apparatus 58 includes the knife blades 48 and 50 and the connecting device 52 for mounting the knife or cutting blades 48 and 50 on the shaft 46. More particu larly, the connecting device 52 includes a hollow post 60 having a bottom radial flange 62 and a through bore 64. The post 60 is adapted to receive the operating shaft 46 of the machine in the bore 64. A set screw 66 is threadedly received in a radially extending aperture in the flange 62 and is adapted to frictionally engage the shaft 46 to fix the post 60 in place on shaft 46. The post 60 mounts a first knife blade holder 68 and a second knife blade holder 70.

More specifically, the knife blade holder 68 includes a circular portion 72 having a central through bore 74. The post 60 is rotatably and slidingly received through the bore 74 and the bottom surface of the portion 72 rests on the upper surface of the radial flange 62. Integral with the circular member 72 is an outwardly extending arm 76. Similarly to the holder 68, the knife blade holder 70 includes a circular portion 78 having a central through bore 80 and an outwardly extending arm 82. The bore 80 rotatably and slidingly receives the post 60 therethrough and the bottom surface of the circular portion 78 rests on. the upper surface of the circular portion 72 of the holder 68. The arm 76 extends above the circular portion 72 for a distance which is substantially equal to the height of the portion 78 of the holder 70. Likewise, the arm 82 extends downwardly for a height which is substantially equal ot the height of the circular portion 72 of the holder 68. The arms 82 and 76 are in facing relationship to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Since the circular portions 78 and 72 are rotatably received on the post 60, it will be obvious that the knife blade holders 68 and 70 may be rotated with respect to each other thereby to change the angular relationship of the arms 76 and 82. In other words, the arms 76 and 82 may be moved toward or away from each other simply by rotating the holders on the post 60. Additionally, a portion of the peripheral wall of the circular portion 78 is removed at '84 (FIG. 4) and a portion of the peripheral wall of the circular portion 72 is removed at 86 to provide clearance for the arms 76 and 82 so that the arms may be moved relatively close to each other.

The arm 76 is provided with spaced longitudinally extending elongated slots 88 and 90. Similarly, the arm 82 is provided with spaced longitudinally extending elongated slots 92 and 94. The slots 8894 provide a means for movably mounting the knife blades 48 and 50 on the respective arms 76 and 82. More specifically, screws 96 and 98 extend through the slots 88 and and threadedly engage the knife blade 48 to maintain the knife blade in a preselected position on the arm 76. In a similar manner, screws 100 and 102 extend through the respective slots 92 and 94 and threadedly engage the knife blade 50 to maintain the knife blade 50 in place on the arm 82. It should be noted that the screws 96-102 do not extend through the respective knife blades 48 and 50' but they terminate before the front surfaces of the knife blades so they do not interfere with the operation of the device.

When it is desired to change the position of a knife blade on the associated arm, such as the knife blade 48, the screws 96 and 98 are loosened and the knife blade is movable longitudinally on the arm 76 to the desired position. Thereafter, the screws 96 and 98 may be tightened to maintain the knife blade in the new position.

The post 60 is provided with an upper threaded portion 104 (FIG. 3). Threadedly received on the threaded portion 104 is an enlarged wing nut 106. The lower surface of the wing nut 106 bears upon the upper surface of the circular portion 78 of the knife blade holder 70. Accordingly, when the Wing nut is tightened against the portion 78, the knife blade holders 70' and 68 will be compressed between the radially extending flange 62 of the post 60 and the bottom surface of the wing nut 106 to maintain the knife holders in a preselected position. In other words, the wing nut 106 maintains the arms 76 and 82 in a preselected angular relationship in accordance with the desires of the operator.

It is to be noted that the majority of the varied collar styles now in use are substantially standardized. In other words, the taper of the edges of the collar which form the collar point for the different collar styles are standard throughout the industry. Accordingly, indexing means, designated generally by the reference numeral 108 in FIG. 4, is provided for quickly indexing the arms 76 and 82 to a particular position to accommodate a standard style of collar in the machine 10.

More particularly, the indexing means or device 108 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 110-118 in the upper surface of the circular portion 72 of the knife blade holder 68. The apertures 110118 are adapted to receive a pin depending from the circular portion 78 of the knife blade holder 70-. The spacing between adjacent ones of the apertures 110-118 is such that when the pin 120 is received in a particular aper ture, the arms 76 and 82 of the knife blade holders 68 and 70 will form an angle corresponding to the angle formed by the tapered edges of the collar to be trimmed.

When it is desired to change the collar style, the angle formed by the knife holder arms 76 and 82 (and, therefore, the angle formed by the knife blades 48 and 50') must be correspondingly changed. Accordingly, the knife blade holder 70 is raised until the pin 120 is spaced above the knife blade holder 68. Thereafter, the knife blade holder 70 is rotated to a position wherein the pin 120 overlies the desired one of the apertures 110'-118 corresponding to the desired angular relationship of the knife holder arms 76 and 82. The knife blade holder 70 is then moved downwardly so that the pin 120 is received in the desired one of the apertures. Hence, the indexing device 108 provides a means for quickly indexing the arms 76 and 82 and, therefore, the knife blades 48 and 50 to the new angular relationship. The wing nut 106 may then be tightened to maintain the knife blade holders 68 and 70 on the post 60. In the present device, the arms 76 and 82 may be indexed from the full line drawing of FIG. 2 to any one of the broken line Positions.

Indicating means may be provided for quickly indicating to the operator the particular type of collar for which the knife blades are set. Thus, a number of graduations 122 are provided on the peripheral wall of the circular portion 72 of the knife blade holder 68, corresponding in number to the different apertures 110118 in the circular portion. Additionally, the peripheral wall of the circular member 78 of the knife blade holder 70 is pro vided with an arrowhead 124. Thus, when the pin 120 is received in the aperture 118, for example, the arrowhead 124 will be aligned with one of the graduations 122 which indicates the collar style for which the arms 76 and 82 are positioned.

In operation, the post 60 is mounted on the operating shaft 46 of the trimming machine and the set screw 66 is tightened to affix the post on the shaft. The Wing nut 106 is removed and the knife blade holder 70' is separated from the knife blade 68 so that the same is freely rotatable on the post 60. The pin 120- is then inserted into the desired one of the apertures 110-118 in accordance with the collar style to be trimmed, as noted hereinabove. The wing nut 106 is then screwed onto the threaded portion 104 of the shaft 60 to clamp the knife blade holders 68 and 70 in position.

Thereafter the screws 96, 9-8 and 100, 102 are loosened so that the knife blades 48 and 50 are movable on the respective arms 76 and 82. The knife blades are then moved toward the post 60 until the inner adjacent edges of the knife blades meet, thereby forming the desired apex angle. In other words, the knife blades 48 and 50 lie in the same plane as the respective knife blade holder arms 76 and 82. Hence, the knife blades make the same angle that the knife blade holder arms 76 and 82 form. Accordingly, when the knife blades are movedrearwardly on the respective arms until they meet, the angle formed thereby will correspond to the angle formed by the arms 76 and 82 which, as noted above, corresponds to the apex angle of the collar point to be trimmed. The screws 96, 98 and 100, 102 may then be tightened to maintain the knife blades in place.

At this point, the wing nut 106 may be loosened and the knife blade holders 68 and 70 rotated as a unit to align the cutting edges 54 and 56 of the knife blades in cutting relationship with respect to the tapered edges 30 and 32 of the cutting platform 28 so that the cutting edges will cleanly trimthe excess material from the collars.

When it is desired to change the orientation of the arms 76 and 82 to accommodate a different style collar, the wing nut 106 is loosened or removed. Thereafter, the pin 120 is moved to a new one of the apertures 110-118 thereby orienting the arms 76 and 82 in the desired angular position corresponding to the angle formed by the tapered edges of the new collar style. The blades 48 and 50 are again adjusted on the arms 76 and 82 so that they meet to form an apex angle corresponding to the apex angle of the new collar point.

As noted above, odd collar styles have been designed in which the angles formed by the tapered edges of the collars are not standard. Accordingly, in order to accommodate one of these odd collar styles the angular relationship of the arms 76 and 82 of the respective knife blade holders may correspond to a position wherein the pin 120 would be spaced between adjacent apertures such as and 112. Hence, the pin is threadedly received in the knife blade holder 70 so that it may be removed easily. Thus, when an odd style collar is to be trimmed, the pin 120 is removed and the arms 76 and 82 are set at the desired angle. Thereafter, the wing nut 106 is tightened to firmly clamp the knife blade holders 68 and 70 in position so that the arms 76 and 82 form the desired angle. Thereafter the knife blades 48 and 50 may be moved on the arms 76 and 82 to form the desired angle, in the manner noted hereinabove.

Accordingly, an adjustable knife apparatus has been provided for a collar trimming machine which may be positioned to trim the excess material from a plurality of different types of collar styles, thereby eliminating the need for different sets of knife blades.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described it will become 0bvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A knife supporting apparatus for a collar trimming device of the type having a reciprocating shaft for operating the knife, said apparatus comprising a post adapted to be connected to the reciprocating shaft, a first and a second knife holder movably mounted on said post and each having an outwardly extending arm adapted to be connected with a respective knife blade, and indexing means associated with said first and second knife holders for afiixing said first and second knife holders in a selected one of a plurality of different positions corresponding to different angular relationships between said first and second knife holder arms. 1

2. A knife supporting apparatus as in claim 1, and clamping means engageable with said post for clamping said first and second knife holders in said selected position.

3. A knife supporting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said first knife holder and said second knife holder are provided with respective through bores slidingly receiving said post therethrough, whereby said first and second knife holders are movable with respect to said post and with respect to each other.

4. A knife supporting apparatus as in claim 1, in which said indexing means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in said first knife holder, and a projection on said second knife holder adapted to be received in a selected one of said plurality of apertures to position said arms in a selected angular relationship, whereby movement of said projection to a different aperture arranges said first and second knife holder arms in a different angular relationship.

5. A knife supporting apparatus as in claim 1, and means on said first and second knife holder arms for movably mounting a respective knife thereon.

6. An adjustable knife apparatus for a trimming device of the type having a reciprocating shaft for operating the knife, said apparatus comprising a post, means for affixing said post to the reciprocating shaft, a first and a second knife blade holder movably mounted on said post, said first and second knife blade holders each having a respective outwardly extending arm, a first and a second knife blade, mounting means for movably mounting said first knife blade on said first knife blade holder arm and for movably mounting said second knife blade on said second knife blade holder arm, and indexing means associated with said first and second knife blade holders for indexing said first and second knife blade holders to a selected one of a plurality of different positions corresponding to different angular relationships between said first and second knife blade holder arms.

7. An adjustable knife apparatus as in claim 6, in which said mounting means includes a pair of spaced elongated slots on each one of said first and second knife blade holder arms, and a respective screw passing through each slot and threadedly engaging the associated knife blade, whereby said first and second knife blades may be moved on the associated arm and may be affixed in a predetermined position by tightening said screws.

8. An adjustable knife apparatus as in claim 6, in which said indexing means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in said first knife blade holder, and a projection on said second knife blade holder adapted to be received in a selected one of said plurality of apertures whereby the angular relationship between said first and second knife blade holder arms is varied by moving said projection from one of said apertures to another, and indicating means associated with said first and second knife blade holders for visually indicating the angular relationship between said first and second knife blade holder arms.

9. An adjustable knife apparatus for a trimming machine of the type having a reciprocating shaft for operating the knife, said apparatus comprising a post having a bottom radial flange and an opening adapted to receive the shaft therein, means on said post for fixedly connecting said post with the shaft so that said post reciprocates with the shaft, a first knife blade holder comprising a circular portion having a through bore slidingly receiving said post therethrough and an arm extending outwardly from said circular portion, a second knife blade holder comprising a circular portion having a through bore slidingly receiving said post therethrough and an arm extending outwardly from said circular member, a first knife blade and a second knife blade, mounting means for mounting said first knife blade on said first knife blade holder arm and for mounting said second knife blade on said second knife blade holder arm, and clamping means for affixing said first and second knife blade holder arms in a selected one of a plurality of different angular relationships.

10. An adjustable knife apparatus as in claim 9, in which said first knife blade holder rests on said radial flange, said second knife blade holder rests on said first knife blade holder, and said clamping means includes means connected with said post and abutting said second knife blade holder to compress said first and second knife blade holders between said radial flange and said clamping means to maintain said first and second knife blade holder arms in said selected one of said angular relationships.

11. An adjustable knife apparatus as in claim 9, and indexing means for indexing said first and second knife blade arms between different ones of said plurality of angular relationship.

12. An adjustable knife apparatus as in claim 11, in which said indexing means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in said first knife holder, and a projection on said second knife holder adapted to be received in a selected one of said plurality of apertures to position said arms in a selected angular relationship, whereby movement of said projection to a different aperture arranges said first and second knife holder arms in a different angular relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,011 6/1905 Miller 83696 X 2,418,049 3/1947 Schild 8390l X 2,837,160 6/1958 Vera et al. 83641 X 3,277,763 10/1966 Haug 83700= X ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner J. F. COAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 83-641; 2232 

